The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and OpenAI have launched a $50 million partnership to help African countries deploy artificial intelligence to strengthen health systems amid sharp cuts to international aid. The initiative, called Horizon1000, will work with national leaders to identify priority use cases, beginning with Rwanda.
Announcing the plan, Bill Gates said AI could be a “gamechanger” for countries facing severe shortages of health workers and infrastructure. Speaking in Davos, he said innovation is needed to reverse setbacks following aid reductions that coincided with the first rise in preventable child deaths this century. The Gates Foundation estimates global development assistance for health fell by nearly 27% last year.
Horizon1000 aims to reach 1,000 primary health clinics and surrounding communities by 2028. The focus is expected to include maternal health and HIV care, using AI to provide guidance before clinic visits, bridge language gaps, reduce paperwork, and better connect patient records. Rwanda’s ICT minister Paula Ingabire said responsible AI use can ease burdens on healthcare workers while improving quality and access. Gates added that AI could cut visit times roughly in half while delivering better care.